Scope and Contents
The Wendell W. Mischler Papers consist of correspondence, memorabilia, and photographs, which document the personal life and professional activities of Wendell W. Mischler during the years he served as William Howard Taft's private secretary. While the papers date from 1894 to 1930, the bulk of the material concerns Mischler's service to Taft from his retirement as president and until his appointment as chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1913-1921). During this time Taft taught at the Yale University Law School, and Mischler resided in New Haven, Connecticut.
Because Mischler and his wife were separated for long periods of time, during Taft's numerous lecture tours across the country and the Taft family's extended summer vacations in Pointe-au-Pic, Canada, or when Marie Mischler was called to attend family members in Arkansas and Colorado, these papers include extensive files of exchanges between husband and wife. For some periods there are daily letters from Mischler to his wife. Mrs. Mischler's letters are less numerous and many of them remain in the files of undated letters in folders 35-38.
While Mischler seldom discusses politics in these exchanges, the letters consitute a journal of Taft's lecture engagements and provide a view of Taft family business, domestic management, office practices, and social affairs at Yale and in New Haven. Mischler often mentions plays and concerts he attends. The exchanges between husband and wife relate to family business, particularly the health of Mrs. Mischler, who spent some time in a sanitarium in Washington, D.C., family living arrangements and finances, and the activities of Mr. Mischler's niece, Lorena Zeller, who was pursuing a musical career in New York.
The papers include only a few items autographed by Taft and his wife. These are in folders 41 and 42. The papers also include photographs of Taft and his family as well as invitations to Taft family weddings.
The papers also include items of family memorabilia, such as programs from Lorena Zeller's concerts, writings by Marie Mischler, and travel brochures. Box four contains numerous family photographs.
Yale University Library acquired the Mischler Papers in 1986. A niece of Marie Mischler, who received the papers after her aunt's death, had previously held the papers. Included in the papers are a few items related to Taft, which are addressed to Emory Moore, father of the previous owner and brother of Mrs. Mischler.
Because Mischler and his wife were separated for long periods of time, during Taft's numerous lecture tours across the country and the Taft family's extended summer vacations in Pointe-au-Pic, Canada, or when Marie Mischler was called to attend family members in Arkansas and Colorado, these papers include extensive files of exchanges between husband and wife. For some periods there are daily letters from Mischler to his wife. Mrs. Mischler's letters are less numerous and many of them remain in the files of undated letters in folders 35-38.
While Mischler seldom discusses politics in these exchanges, the letters consitute a journal of Taft's lecture engagements and provide a view of Taft family business, domestic management, office practices, and social affairs at Yale and in New Haven. Mischler often mentions plays and concerts he attends. The exchanges between husband and wife relate to family business, particularly the health of Mrs. Mischler, who spent some time in a sanitarium in Washington, D.C., family living arrangements and finances, and the activities of Mr. Mischler's niece, Lorena Zeller, who was pursuing a musical career in New York.
The papers include only a few items autographed by Taft and his wife. These are in folders 41 and 42. The papers also include photographs of Taft and his family as well as invitations to Taft family weddings.
The papers also include items of family memorabilia, such as programs from Lorena Zeller's concerts, writings by Marie Mischler, and travel brochures. Box four contains numerous family photographs.
Yale University Library acquired the Mischler Papers in 1986. A niece of Marie Mischler, who received the papers after her aunt's death, had previously held the papers. Included in the papers are a few items related to Taft, which are addressed to Emory Moore, father of the previous owner and brother of Mrs. Mischler.
Dates
- 1894-1930
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased, 1986.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The papers consist of correspondence, memorabilia, and photographs which document the personal life of Wendell W. Mischler and his professional activities as William Howard Taft's private secretary. The bulk of the correspondence is between Mischler and his wife and chronicles Taft's engagements, domestic management, office practices, and social affairs, from 1913 to 1921, when Taft lived in New Haven, Connecticut, and taught at the Yale University Law School.
Biographical / Historical
Wendell W. Mischler was born in 1870, in Ripley, Ohio. In 1896 he married Marie Gertrude Moore of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Mischler worked in the offices of the War Department in Washington, D.C. Through his work at the War Department, Mischler became acquainted with William Howard Taft, the secretary of war, who asked him to join his confidential staff as his private secretary.
Mischler remained as Taft's private secretary when Taft became president in 1909 and lived in New Haven, Connecticut, during the years Taft taught in the Yale University Law School, 1913-1921. Mischler acompanied Taft on vacations and speaking tours, taking charge of numerous details involved on these trips. Mischler returned to Washington, D.C. in 1921 when Taft was named chief justice of the United States Supreme Court and served Taft until Taft's death in 1930.
Mischler then served as private secretary to Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes. When Hughes retired from the court in 1940, Mischler also retired. He died in the early 1950s.
Mischler remained as Taft's private secretary when Taft became president in 1909 and lived in New Haven, Connecticut, during the years Taft taught in the Yale University Law School, 1913-1921. Mischler acompanied Taft on vacations and speaking tours, taking charge of numerous details involved on these trips. Mischler returned to Washington, D.C. in 1921 when Taft was named chief justice of the United States Supreme Court and served Taft until Taft's death in 1930.
Mischler then served as private secretary to Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes. When Hughes retired from the court in 1940, Mischler also retired. He died in the early 1950s.
- Title
- Guide to the Wendell W. Mischler Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- compiled by Diane E. Kaplan and Tony Lavelle
- Date
- July 1989
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
mssa.assist@yale.edu
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
mssa.assist@yale.edu
Location
Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511